San Francisco deputy sheriff charged with domestic violence
(KRON) — The San Francisco District Attorney’s office announced Monday that San Francisco Deputy Sheriff Jonathan Espiritu has been charged in connection to a domestic violence case. Espiritu, 49, is accused of strangling a woman after she tried to end a dating relationship with him.
According to court documents, the strangling happened on Aug. 14, 2023. Espiritu had an “on and off” dating relationship with the victim, which she allegedly tried to end after Espiritu became “increasingly possessive,” DA Brooke Jenkins’ office said.
Espiritu is accused of strangling the woman in her own home on Aug. 14 and attacking her at her workplace on Dec. 8.
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On March 7, Espiritu allegedly slapped the victim and threatened to kill himself if she reported him to law enforcement. On April 3, she found a tracking device on her car and reported the abuse, the DA’s office said.
The San Francisco Police Department arrested him “in close proximity to where the victim was filing the report,” the DA’s office said. Espiritu has denied all allegations.
“I would like to thank the survivor in this case for coming forward and reporting these crimes to law enforcement,” Jenkins said. “My office will now do everything we can to ensure that there is accountability, and that justice is served.”
Espiritu is in custody as of Monday due to being a public safety risk. He has been charged with two counts of domestic violence, one count of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of stalking, one count of domestic battery, one count of dissuading a witness, one count of unlawful use of an electronic tracking device and one count of obstruction of use of wireless device to summon assistance.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court date is April 19.
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